Lubricator for elevator and weight guides



Oct. 7, 1930. Y. 'zENoN 1,777,345

LUBRICATOR FOR ELEVATOR AND WEIGHT GUIDES Filed sept. 10, 192e Patented Oct. 7, 1930 Unirse? l.erratas YVAN ZNON, OF ROSEDALE, NEW YORKv LUBRICATOR FOR ELEVATOR AND WEIGHT GUIDES Applicationled September 1(7), 1928. Serial No. 304,889.

The present invention has reference to devices for lubricating the guide rails of velevators and also for the counterweights thereof, and/it appertains more especially to lubricators employing grease or like semi-fluid lubricants. y p

l The main object of the invention is the production of an improved device of the-character described, which will function properly .i even though disalignment exists between guide memberswherewith it coacts.

Another object is the provision, in a device of the nature set forth, of yieldably maintained grease retaining elements arranged to i: continuously contact with the guide members no matter if the same are out of plumb.

' A further Objectis to provide a device of the class mentioned with spring urged grease retaining elements of softer material than the guide members upon the opposite sides whereof they bear, so as to automatically take up their own wear and follow irregularities occurring in and between the members and without leaving any marks on the latter.

Still another object consists in providing a Vdevice of the type specied with a gravity actuated follower for pressingY the lubricant against the sides of the guide member, while allowing the grease retaining elements unrestricted freedom of operation.

A still further object is to produce a device of the kind referred to, so constructed and arranged that the parts thereof which are subjected to wear, can, when worn` out, be quickly replaced by new ones.

A general object resides in providing a device for the purpose in view whichshall be composed of few, simple, light 'and stro-ng parts, requiring a minimum of machine-work vand attention; durable and readily kept in workingorder ,'convenientto put up and inspect, and amenable vas well to economical manufacture. A

Other objects'and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specication proceeds. f

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists of the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their `"preferred embodiments,

`pointed out in the subjoined claims and illustrated on the annexed drawing, whereinv like parts are designated by the same reference characters thruout the several views. y

In the said drawing Figure I is a top plan viewofa lubricator embodying one form of the invention, a certain vpart being omitted and another part broken away to show those located below; l n u. Fig. II is a front view, partly in section, of '6.o the lubricatorrepresented by the first named figure, a certain part being broken away to show rearwardly located elements; p

Fig. III is a sideview, partly in section, of the structure illustrated by the preceding fig- 65 ures' n vlV is a top plan view, corresponding to Fig. I, of a follower coacting with the in- Vterior of the lubricator;

Eig. V isa yfront'view of the follower de- 170 picted in the last mentioned figure; Y VFig. VI is afragmentary rear side view of a grease retaining gate and actuating spring; and y i Fig. VII is a sectional plan view of a keeper 75 'for the aforesaid spring.

Briefly outlined, the'invention as it exists in the embodiment thereof herein exemplified, comprises an approximately cube-shaped grease container vvhaving a cover hinger there- SD to. The latter as well asf the front,lside and bottom of this container are formed with a gap aording a clearance space around the web portion ofv a guide rail received therewithin. Held in slidablerelation to the'inner y85 faces of the containers front side, is a pair of grease retaining gates, one on each side of the aforementioned gap, These gates are spring urged so as to bear upon opposite sides of the guide rails web. A weighted pad constitut- 90 ing a follower is made to rest on top of the grease and servesto fo-rce the same against the guide rail, still without interfering with the movements of the gates. Means are provided for attaching the container with its 95 appurtenances to a primary support, such as the top of an elevator cage orthe counterweight therefor.

Obviously, the greatest benefit will be derived from the invention by using it in its en- `10o` tirety after the manner hereinabove expressed, although it may be noted that an operative device of acceptable design may be produced by employing a less number of parts,

ing the same end in view. `Therefore,` let it be understood, that the annexed drawing,is

offered by way of example only, and is not Vof dirt and dust.

put forth as representing theI` sole meansof reducing the inventiontopractice. As illustrated on the said drawing, the device constituting `the present exemplification of the invention, includes a. rectangular` boxlike receptacle designated as a whole by the reference numeral .11. This receptacle or container, which is adapted to hold grease or other semi-fluid y or viscous lubricant, comprises front, rear, bottom and side walls. denoted 11, 11, 11", `11 and 11i, respectively. Hingedly connected by means of a rod 13 t0 the upper rear corners of the last named walls, is a lid or cover 15 which tightly overlies the entire open top or upper end of container 1l, precluding the entrance t-hereinto The before mentioned rod passes through an ear l5al depending from the underside of the eovers rear edge, and'this edge when cover 15 is swung open, will abut against the uppermost portion of the containers rear wall, thus limiting y the opening movement of said lid. The over-weighted condition `ofthe lids free front edge. tends to close the same, even though 'an attendant after having charged grease into the receptacle, neglects to push the lid down. The container and its cover can conveniently be made of either east or Wrought metal.

' From Fig. III it will be observed that the bottom wall 11d and also the cover 15, `are provided with open ended recesses 11,g and 15b respectively, the mouths whereof are turned towards the front of the receptacle. The recesses spoken of, are continued so as to extend along the containers front wall, dividing the same by a straight sided slot 11h into two parts (11) and 11". The slot and recesses ereinbefore mentioned, form together a gap which is disposed in parallelism with and has the inner ends thereof reaching into proximity of a median [axis passing vertically through the receptacle. Within this gap is received the major portion of the three boundary faces' that surround the web of a Tyrail A, whereof the 'guides for elevator cars or cages and the counterweights therefor, are generally composed.. The `gap in .question ismade of, ample width and depth in .ers 21, 211) attached to the latter.

having one or more of the joints thereof with the companion guide members, out of alignment. Such disalignment of the guides, produces the uneven, shaky movement and ruinbling noises, frequently noticeable in lifts or tively ylarge spaces on both sides of the guide rail, there is furnished a pair of grease retainers 17, 17h. These elements or gates, as u they also may be termed, bear with the apposed inner edges upon the opposite side faces of the guide rail A, being urged thereto by springs 19a, 19b which may be of the flat or leaf type, as shown. The material selected for the grease retaining gates is preferably a species of hard wood, altho fibre, or some suitable bearing metal can also be used therefor. In the particular construction illustrated, it is represented that the gates 17, 17" are held, flat-wise in contact with the front side divisions 11", 11b, respectively, in this instance on the inside of the receptacle 11. The springs 19a, 19, are interposed between thel outer side edges of the gates 17 a, 17", and the interior faces of. the receptacles side walls 11, 11, respectively. While it is optional how these springs are anchored in position, the drawing shows the same as being held in the plane ot movement of the gates, by keep- From Fig. VII, which is a horizontal longitudinal section thru oneof these keepers, it will be seen, that the last named instrumentality envelops both of the flat sides and the narrow edges included,therebetween, of the springs Acentral part, which is firmly clinched intermediate itsy ends within the folds of said keeper. The keepers in turn, are secured by means of their flattened taillilre portions 21C, 21-"1to the sides of the gates that face the in` terior oi the container. Said tail port-ions which overlie the inner sides of the grease retaining gates, are fixed by brads 21c driven thereinto (see Fig. VI). The inner or preferof large headed rivets 23, 28d respectively.

The shanksof these rivets are slidably guided within elongated apertures 11j, 11k formed in the front wall divisions 11%, 1lb, respectively. Washers 25 engaging the Shanks 23, 23', are held upagainst the exterior surfaces of said divisions 11, 11b, by the herein before mentioned rivets, afterthe `outer terminals of their said Shanks have been spread apart and bent voutwardly over the first named washers, as. denoted at 23e, Figs. II and III.

llf)

Notwithstanding that inthe guiding mechanismfor the slidable' grease vretaining elements 17a, 17h, the rivet Shanks 23?, 28h,

Xtend from the inner sides of the tail portionsofithelieepers 212217, and are movable within the apertures 11j, 11k, and that these shanlrs have the washers 25 on the outside of thepieceptacle, the reversal of this arrange-L ment vis contemplated by 'the invention, and may under certain circumstances be resorted to. Y f

From the foregoing it will be comprehended,"thatfif instead of being in a straight pei'- pendicular plane, should the guide rail A have become deflected to one side or the other, for vreasons hereinabove mentioned, thegates 17217 under the influence of their springs, 'will follow the varying or undulating path `'presented thereto, still without permitting aiiy'of the grease contained in the receptacle to findv its way out, either between the edges "ofthe gate elements that bear upon'the said guide, orintermediate the' sides of the gates 'which contact with the receptacles inside frontrfaces. At such times as the aforesaid gates have been vworn out, it is only a matter ofa few minutes, to bend back the prongs 23 of the split shanlrs, pull the' washers 25 off the ylatter, and retract inwardly of the container, theold and in their'stead substitute a newl fset of gates.

V'lVith 'reference to Figs.Y LIE and III, it

will be seenf-that a 'pad 27"consisting of aV piece of `comparatively thick felt is laid upon the bottom 11d of the container. lVhile this pad is notched to take around the inwardly turned faces of the guide rail, the edgesof the felt are made to fit snugly about the said rail, bridging the contours of the recess 11g iii said botto-in. By reason of the fact that pad 27 bears against the innermost, short transverse side of the rail A, the front edge of the said pad which is in close adjacency tothe l gates 17a, 17h, is restrained from coming into contact and interfering with the operation of the latter. At 29 (Fig. HI) it is suggested that a similar but smaller pad can be secured, by cementing or in any other appropriate manner, to the underside of the lid l5 so as to cover up the recess 15b therein and prevent foreign matter from entering the' container. Both of the pads 27 and 29 serve as wipers around the lubricated faces of the guide rail, in hindering too much of the i grease that may adhere to said faces from being dragged out of the receptacle ll when the lubiicator is carried up and down by the moving primary support to which it is aff 'fvantag'es f demand intimately against that-portion of the T-rail vwhich passes thru the container 11. Overlying pad l31 Vis a rather heavy plate 33 capable of imposing the weight necessary for the follower to descend by gravity within the said receptacle. To the upper face of said plate is fastened a grip 35, by means of a coup'le of'spli't rivets" 37, -of like nature to those used inconjuncti'on with the gates and their spring keepers. The employment of a pair of such fastenings prevent the associated grip, plate and pad from twisting one relatively'to the other. The plate 33 and pad 31 are provided with a recess and a notch 33a and 3la respectively, on the sameV order Vas those in the bottom lld and the thereon resting pad 27,beiiig for the identical purpose and function as the latter. 'Theffelt piece 3l affords an additional safeguard, intercepting such particles of deleterious matter as may? have escaped, pastthe top wiper 29, reaching the grease beneath the follower. f

At 39a, 39h it isfrepresented that a'pairv of L-shaped legs extend inwardlyv ,underthe'receptacle from the bottom l1d thereof. The

outer portions of legs 39a, 39b are Vdisposed flush with theexterior surfaces ofthe'receptacles sidewalls lle, llf, respectively, andthe aforesaid portions as well as 'inwardly turned feet 39,B9d wherewith the legs :are provided,r

havetheir common transverse centres located in a plane passing crosswise thru the iecepvtacle V11, in proximity to the inner "end 'of its bottom recess 11g. They aforesaid' lfeetfare furnished with suitable 'openings 39e 39?, for? bolts or' screws, securing the device in its ventirety tothe top crossfpiecefguide engaging shoes, `or to any other appropriate placeon *the elevator car, y'or 'to the counter-weights therefor.

In its broader aspects, the invention herev4in disclosed is lnot limited Eto the precise features of construction and arrangements "of 'p'artsfsliown and described,f`-n'-or""to theV particular structural make-'up or design by Iwhich it'can be reduced to p`rac'tice,ifas numerous' changes may be made in detailswitho'ut departing from the principles 'ofthe invention or even sacrificing anyv of its chiefad- Having now described my invention what I claim as novel therein and desire particu- *larly lto protect by Letters Patent ofthe United lStates, is v 1. In aglubricator forf'guide rails, a grease container Vhaving ag'apl thru which passes a portion of 'said'lguide in direct 'contact ywith the lubricant, Eand yanl element yieldably bearingy allalong vthe portionof Vthe guide receivedI within said container serving to retain the grease therein. i.

fl 2. In ailu'bricator forelevat'or guides, a greasey receptacle having "a vertical gap thru which passes 'in Contact,with thegrease, ad portion of one of 'said 'guides in v'spaced relay Sections, a

i lng therein a portion of the rail, elements as- Sociated with said wall arranged to bear along the sides of the rail received within the reserjyoir, and springs tending to urge said elements into contact with said sides regardless of their parallelism, the said elements serving to prevent the grease from escaping inter- ;Inedlate the rail and said gap while permitting the grease to-corne into direct contactr with thesaid rail. y

4. In a lubricator for aligned guide rail Y ease container having a gap through its tient wall, said gap affording a clearance space around the' portion of a rail section received therein, grease retaining y gates disposed iatwise upon the inner faces lof said wall on opposite sides of said rail portion, and resiiient means acting to press the apposed edges of said gates jointly against the said portion irrespective of the alignment thereof with adjacent sections.

` 5. In a lubricator for elevator guide rails, a grease receptaclehaving a gap in the Wall thereof facing one of the rails, said gap being ladapted to loosely receive a portion of the latter, grease retainers of softer material than Said rails associated with said wall in position tocontact edgewise with opposite sides of sald portlon, springs urglng said retainers ganst said faces independently of their condition of parallelism, and means forV anchoring said springs to the said grease` retainers.

6. In a guide lubricator, a greasecontainer havlng a apin one of its walls adapted to loosely ta e around a portion of the guide, elements coactin with the opposite sides of the latter and t e gapped wall preventing `escape of grease therebetween, springs urging said elements to follow said guide evenl ,though deflected sidewise, and means for maintaining the elements in operatlve rela- Vtion with respect to the said Wall on either Side of the ga therein.

7. In alu ricator for T-rail guides, a grease containing receptacle having gaps extendin through the front and bottom walls thereo said gaps bein adapted to loosely encompass a portion oft e web of one of said giliides, spring urged gates cooperating with t e a opposite ces ofthe latter and the sides l, of the front wall gap, and a pad overlying the bottom gap in wiping contact with said web, said gates and said pad jointly serving to prevent escape of grease between them and Athe said web portion, while functioning independently one of the other.

8. In a lubricator for elevator guides, a

grease container formed with a gap capable of loosely receiving a portion of one of the guides t erein, spring urged gates operatively carried by said container in coacting relation with the opposite faces of said portion, and a weighted follower within the container provided with a pad in wiping contact with the said guide portion, said follower acting to press the grease against the latter, being spaced from the gates to leave a Working clearance therebetween.

9. In a lubricator for guide rails, a grease container having a gap permitting projection thereinto of a portion of said rail in direct contact with the lubricant, and means extendingabove the bottom of the grease holding portion of said container engaging the guide rail to prevent the lubricant from leaking out of said gap even tho the rail received therein is out of alignmente 10. In a lubricator for guide rails, a grease container having a gap permitting projection thereinto of a portion of said rail, the latter being in direct contact with the lubricant in the container, means associated with said container engaging the guide rail to prevent escape of the grease thru said gap regardless of the rails alignment therein, and other means exerting pressure on top of the grease to force the same around the portion of the said rail pro]ect1ng beyond said first named means into the said container.

YVAN ZNON. 

